Game Notes (PDF) 

In a Halloween battle of Orange and Black, William Paterson (3-4, 2-4 NJAC) will visit Buffalo State (1-6, 1-5 NJAC) Saturday, Oct. 31, for an 11:30 a.m. kickoff. 

A live radio feed of the game will be available at http://bscvs01.buffalostate.edu/wbny.

Scouting the Pioneers
William Paterson is 3-4 overall and 2-4 in New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) play following a 12-10 home loss to Cortland (6-2, 6-2 NJAC) Oct. 24. 

Senior Matt Marshall (Burlington, N.J./Burlington City), who tossed a school-record 20 touchdown passes a year ago, is 107-for-189 for 1,260 yards, eight touchdowns and six interceptions this season. Marshall enters the Buffalo State game tied with Robert Pirmann (28, 1975-78) for the top spot on the William Paterson career touchdown passes list. Marshall currently is sixth in passing yardage (180.0 yards/game) and seventh in total offense (180.0 yards/game) in the conference statistics. 

Sophomore Marcus McKinney (Paterson, N.J./John F. Kennedy) has gained 658 yards on 170 carries (3.9 yards/attempt) and scored eight touchdowns to lead the ground game, including a school-record 42 attempts against TCNJ Oct. 17. He was named the Oct. 18 NJAC and ECAC Southeast Offensive Player of the Week as well as a member of the D3football.com National Team of the Week. McKinney is tied for second in rushing yardage (94.0 yards/game), fifth in all-purpose yardage (98.1 yards/game) and 12th in total offense (94.0 yards/game) in the conference statistics. Classmate Corey Paladino (Lodi, N.J./Lodi) has rushed 41 times for 132 yards and one score. 

Senior Joel Rivera (Hoboken, N.J./Hoboken), who established new Pioneer records with his 74 receptions for 965 yards to earn 2008 first-team all-NJAC and second-team all-region accolades, currently has 38 catches for 587 yards and six TDs. With his 14-yard TD catch at Montclair State Oct. 3, Rivera became the Pioneers' all-time career touchdown receptions leader with 17 (currently 20). He needs three receptions and 56 yards to match the career records of 149 and 2,101 established by Kareen Moon (2004-07). Rivera is the NJAC leader in receiving yardage (83.9 yards/game), and ranks second in receptions/game (5.4). 

Senior Chris Schule (Rutherford, N.J./Rutherford) has added 21 catches for 236 yards and two scores. Junior fullback Derrik Rideg (Rochelle Park, N.J./Paramus Catholic), who was an honorable-mention all-league selection after catching 19 passes for 189 yards a year ago, currently has 17 receptions for 124 yards. 

Junior linebacker Jim Hamill (Stanhope, N.J./Lenape Valley Regional) paces William Paterson with 76 tackles (36 solo, 3.5 TFL), or 10.9 per game to rank second in the conference statistics, while adding an interception. A second-team all-NJAC honoree a year ago, junior defensive end Dyon Moore (Brooklyn, N.Y./Hudson Catholic) has made 50 tackles (21 solo, 10.5 TFL) and forced a fumble. He is sixth in the league statistics in tackles for loss (1.50 TFL/game) and is 13th overall in tackles (7.1 per game). Senior defensive end Keith Sayball (Milford, Conn./Foran), the Oct. 11 NJAC and ECAC Southeast Defensive Player of the Week, has 48 tackles (21 solo, 9.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks) and a forced fumble while ranking tied for seventh in the NJAC in tackles for loss (1.36 TFL/game) and tied for 10th in sacks (0.36 sack/game). 

The 2008 NJAC Defensive Rookie of the Year, Doug Dudek (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills) has 44 stops (15 solo, 5.5 TFL), an interception, two passes-broken-up, a fumble forced and a fumble recovery. Sophomore Stephen Bovo, Jr. (Dunellen, N.J./Dunellen) is tied for sixth in interceptions/game (0.43), adding 17 tackles (11 solo) and a fumble recovery. 

Freshman placekicker Ryan Brzycki (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Catholic) is 6-for-8 on field-goal attempts (.750, tied-second in NJAC) and 14-for-15 on PATs (.933, second in league). Junior defensive back Chris Thomas (West Milford, N.J./West Milford), who has 19 tackles, two interceptions and a forced fumble, is tied for the NJAC lead in punt return average (11.0 yards/return,
tied-33rd in Division III). 

William Paterson returned nine offensive starters and seven defensive starters, including seven all-conference selections, from a 2008 team that compiled a 4-6 overall record and a 3-6 mark in NJAC play. The Pioneers were picked to finish seventh in the 2009 NJAC Preseason Coaches Poll.

Scouting the Bengals
Buffalo State is 1-6 overall and 1-5 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) following a 57-7 loss at Rowan (6-1, 5-1 NJAC) Oct. 24. 

Freshman Ryan Lehotsky is 15-for-44 for 167 yards, one touchdown and an interception in five appearances. Senior Willie Hordge leads the Bengals with 93 carries for 325 yards (3.5 yards/carry) and seven touchdowns. Sophomore Antonio Speed has caught a team-high 17 passes for 212 yards. 

Senior linebacker Matt Pacana is Buffalo State's leading tackler with 60 stops (25 solo; 6.0 TFL), adding an interception. Freshman linebacker Eddie Weiser has made 53 tackles (22 solo, 4.0 TFL) and picked off three passes while forcing a fumble, while freshman defensive back Kam Johnson has added 44 stops (18 solo), an interception and a fumble forced. 

Sophomore Nick Debbins is 2-for-5 (.400) on field-goal attempts and 12-for-13 (.923) on PATs while averaging 30.2 yards/punt. 

Buffalo State was 1-9 overall and 1-8 in NJAC play last year. The Bengals were picked to finish ninth in the 2009 NJAC Preseason Coaches Poll.

Pioneers vs. Bengals
William Paterson is 3-0 all time against Buffalo State. A year ago, the Pioneers earned a 51-24 home victory against the Bengals (11/1/08).